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BlueBet Holdings confirmed Thursday (August 29) it will exit the U.S. to focus on its core Australian market, following a merger with Betr in April. 

After the company agreed to acquire Betr’s wagering business, BlueBet conducted a strategic a strategic review of its U.S. operations. The decision comes about a month after BlueBet terminated its market access deal with Horseshoe Hammond Casino in Indiana. 

Plans to launch in Iowa, Colorado, and Louisiana have also been terminated. BlueBet, which operated its ClutchBet brand in the U.S., stated objective now is to exceed 10 percent market share in Australia. 

“The decision to exit the U.S. comes as slower than expected regulation has hampered total market growth and hindered interest in the company’s B2B SaaS platform, which BlueBet viewed as a significant opportunity,” the company said in a statement.

“Further, the industry dynamics in the U.S. B2C market are such that scale players are currently dominant with smaller operators unable to achieve the necessary unit economics – driving a recent wave of consolidation and exits, which is likely to continue into” fiscal year 2025. 

The statement continued: “Importantly, the company maintains ownership of its highly scalable, proprietary international sportsbook technology and will continue to pursue further monetization of its technology assets in the U.S. and internationally."

DraftKings has reached an agreement to acquire microbetting technology company Simplebet Inc. and intends to incorporate their proprietary live betting offering into its existing technology platform. 

The merger has been approved by the boards of directors of DraftKings and Simplebet. DraftKings already held a 15 percent stake in Simplebet through an agreement that enabled the operator to offer real money micro-betting 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but JMP Securities analyst Jordan Bender estimated the deal cost at $195m with an upfront payment of $70m. Bender believed the terms were favorable “with an upfront payment for the technology and earnouts for up to $125m … if the company meets the criteria.” 

“Live betting represents an area for potential growth for online sports betting, and the proposed acquisition would allow DraftKings to leverage Simplebet’s proprietary technology to create an in-play wagering experience that moves at the speed of sports,” Corey Gottlieb, DraftKings chief product officer, said in a statement Wednesday (August 28).

Founded in 2018, Simplebet has created a niche product that allows gamblers to bet within milliseconds for individual events, or plays, such as the next pitch of a baseball game. 

In a research note on Thursday (August 29), Bender wrote that in-paly betting ranges from 20 to 35 percent of handle in the U.S. depending on the sport, with micro-betting a small portion within that range.

“That said, DraftKings balance sheet will help grow Simplebet beyond its current capabilities.” 

One of the "big four" commercial banks in the Republic of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, has introduced gambling payment blocking.

Its customers can now voluntarily block credit and debit card transactions to gambling companies, the bank said in a .

“The financial services industry has a role to play in supporting customers as they combat any gambling difficulties they may have, and it’s important AIB does what we can to help them stop the harm. That is why we are putting in place additional supports for customers who wish to take steps to protect themselves from problem gambling," said Geraldine Casey, AIB's managing retail director.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has said it may change the rules of its leagues to make clubs pay some of their revenue from bookmakers to the CBF to help combat match-fixing. 

The CBF originally tried to claim 5 percent of gross gaming revenue of football bets back when the details of what is now Law 14790 were being hammered out, but were unsuccessful in that attempt. 

This latest proposal will, by the CBF’s estimate, generate R$82m (US$15m).

According to Brazilian paper of record Folha de S. Paulo, football clubs are vehemently against the proposed change, as they say that fighting match-fixing within the league is the responsibility of the CBF.

Match-fixing has been a buzzword since a scandal was uncovered in the state of Goiás in February 2023 and its impacts were traced all the way to the upper echelons of football, including England’s Premier League. There have been two congressional investigations since.

When Law 14970 was being debated, multiple parties vied for a small cut of revenues. This includes former football legend turned Senator, Romario, who wanted 0.5 percent for the Ministry of Equality (MIR) to help combat racism.

In the end, all were denied.

Tony Frabbiele, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, told regulators Wednesday (August 28) during a license renewal hearing that the continued growth of skill games in Pennsylvania continues to put pressure on the slot side of the business.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) last week approved the casino’s request to remove 169 slot machines from the casino floor, to take the current count down to 1,532. 

“We do not see growth from the additions to our brick and mortar casino,” Frabbiele said. “So why is that? When we look at what else could be putting pressure on gambling, we go to skill games.”

According to Penn, a recent search within a ten miles radius of Hollywood Casino found 77 locations with more than 325 skill games, including several so-called skill game parlors each with more than ten games.

“It continues to grow, and we don’t know how much it is growing,” Frabbiele told the control board.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is expected to debate the issue of skill games later this year or early 2025.

The PGCB did not issue a decision on whether to renew Hollywood Casino’s Category One slot license but will refer its findings back to the full control board, who will make a licensing decision at a later meeting. 

Americans are increasingly embracing casino gaming and sports betting as acceptable forms of entertainment and responsible industries, according to a report released Wednesday (August 28) by the American Gaming Association (AGA). 

The report found that 75 percent of Americans believe the gaming industry behaves responsibly in the communities where it operates, and nine in ten Americans view sports betting as an acceptable form of entertainment. The AGA’s survey also states that 75 percent of Americans support legal sports betting in their home state. 

"These latest survey results highlight a consistent trend over the years: as gaming expands to new audiences, Americans increasingly see the benefits of a legal, regulated gaming marketplace that contributes to communities, prioritizes responsibility and provides unmatched entertainment,” AGA spokesman Joe Maloney said in a statement.

The study reveals particular increases in favorable views toward the industry’s commitments to responsible gaming, with 65 percent of those surveyed now saying the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling, a notable rise from 55 percent last year. 

Editor's Note: This brief was updated at 3:52pm EST on August 28 with comment from Chase Locke, CEO of One Country.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) on Tuesday (August 27) issued a cease-and-desist letter to OC Media Holdings LLC, operating as One County Give, that has been offering entries into so-called sweepstakes advertised on its website and social-media platforms. 

These so-called sweepstakes are unlicensed online lotteries and/or raffles under Michigan law, according to the control board. 

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board will not, and does not, tolerate activities that circumvent our laws and threaten the integrity of the highly regulated gaming industry in Michigan,” executive director Henry Williams said in a statement. 

Williams warned other unlicensed operators that the MGCB will keep issuing cease-and-desist letters and taking appropriate legal actions to halt illegal gaming Michigan.

Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, One County, which operates multiple online lotteries and/or raffles concurrently, offers customers four different membership levels with varying monthly fees, as well as entries through one-time payments or through the purchase of merchandise.

The company has 14 days to cease operations after receiving the notice.

“We were made aware of Michigan’s stance this morning,” Chase Locke, CEO of One County, said in an email on Wednesday (August 28). "We look forward to working with our legal team and the Michigan Gaming Control Board to ensure we address their areas of concern.”

A significant increase in gaming scam calls in Arizona and nearby states has Arizona regulators issuing a warning to the public to “remain vigilant” and to not give these callers any personal information. 

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) warned the public Tuesday (August 27) that scammers are pretending to be affiliated with the ADG, the National Indian Gaming Association, and the Indian Gaming Association, in an effort to steal patrons’ personal information and money.

Other notable references include but are not limited to the Indian Gaming Association, the Arizona Gaming Commission, and the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. The ADG confirmed Tuesday that one of those nearby states was Nevada.

“Legitimate organizations such as the ADG, its partner Tribal gaming regulators, and national gaming regulatory agencies will never call a patron to alert them of a "win" or "sweepstakes,"" the department said in a statement. 

“In addition, these legitimate organizations will never call a patron to alert them of delinquent taxes or fees owed to the state of Arizona or the Internal Revenue Service.”

The ADG said if someone claims to work for one of the organizations mention in the release and “makes any demands or threats relevant to the information above, they are a scammer.”

Betting on sports involving minors or amateurs is not allowed in Germany except for a “major sporting event of national or international importance”, such as world championships or the Olympics, the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) has said.

If the regulator discovers that bets are being accepted on events involving predominantly minors or amateurs other than the allowed exceptions, the GGL can take steps including suspension or revocation of licences, the regulator said in a statement of frequently asked questions.

An unlicensed or illegal provider offering such bets can face criminal prosecution or fines, and IP or payment blocking is also an option, the regulator wrote.

The National Football League (NFL) has extended its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling for an additional three years.

The three-year, $6.4m commitment from the NFL Foundation to the NCPG following the league’s original three-year $6.2m grant awarded in October 2021. The grant supports three key NCPG initiatives including modernizing and strengthening the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER).

The grant will allow the NCPG to improve access across the U.S. and ensure that everyone who reaches out receives high-quality care, and bolster awareness efforts to educate fans and the public on responsible gambling practices.

"Our partnership with NCPG underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives," said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility.

Keith Whyte, NCPG executive director, said its partnership with the NFL has been instrumental in advancing its mission of minimizing gambling0related harm.

“We look forward to building on the significant progress we've made together over the past three years and exploring new avenues for impact,” Whyte said in a statement.